A Renault Clio radio code comes from the pre-code on the head unit label — a letter and three digits such as A123 — or from the unit serial. Enter it on this page and the code comes back for £19.99, refunded in full if it does not work in the radio.
Radio codes belong to the head unit serial number, not the vehicle registration or VIN.
A flat battery, battery replacement or radio removal is what triggers the code prompt.
Covers Renault Clio 1998 to present (Clio II to Clio V).
Bob's never displays a guessed or generated code — if a working code can't be retrieved you get a full refund.
1998 to present (Clio II to Clio V). Renault Update List, Tuner List, Renault Radiosat
How to find the serial number:
Ignition on, radio switched off.
Press and hold button 6 for several seconds — the pre-code may appear.
If not, remove the unit with two U-shaped keys and read the PRE-CODE line on the barcode label.
It will be a letter plus three digits, such as K123.
How to key the code in:
Presets 1 to 4 select the digits.
Hold button 6 to confirm.
Three failed attempts triggers a lockout — verify the pre-code before the third try.
Worth knowing:
Clio II (1998–2005): Update List units. The pre-code is normally on the label only — plan on removing the unit.
Clio III (2005–2012): Tuner List units. Some display the pre-code by holding button 6 with the radio off and the ignition on.
Clio IV (2012–2019): many cars have R-Link or a Renault Radio Connect unit, which often does not use a classic four-digit code.
Renault extraction keys are U-shaped rather than the flat Ford type — the wrong keys will not release the clips.
Clio II, III and IV — what is fitted
A Clio II has a standard single-DIN Tuner List or Update List unit in a cage, and it is the easiest of the three to get out. A Clio III has the radio recessed behind a moulded surround with the display sometimes separate at the top of the dash. A Clio IV is split between a coded CD unit on lower trims and the Media Nav touchscreen higher up the range, and Media Nav needs nothing from us.
If the display is showing four dashes or the word CODE, you have a coded unit. If it boots normally and has just lost the clock, you do not.
Removing the unit
On a Clio II push two U-shaped keys into the slots either side of the fascia until they click, spread them slightly and pull straight out. On a Clio III lift the surround from the bottom edge with a nylon trim tool, then undo the Torx T20 screws behind it.
The pre-code label is on the top or the side of the casing. Photograph it — Clio labels fade badly on cars that have sat in the sun, and if the pre-code has gone the longer serial underneath is the fallback.
Cost and lockouts
£19.99 on this page, refunded in full if the code does not work. A Renault dealer is typically £20 to £40 for the lookup plus labour if they remove the unit.
If you have already tried a few numbers and the unit is counting, leave the ignition in position II so the timer actually runs. Switching the car off pauses it, which is why people think the radio has died.
My Clio radio shows Err That is a rejected code. You normally get three attempts before a timed lockout, so stop and re-check the pre-code rather than guessing.
Does a Clio IV with R-Link need a code? R-Link touchscreen systems generally do not use the four-digit radio code. If it is asking for a PIN, that is a different system lock.
Where exactly is the pre-code label? On the top or right-hand side of the head unit casing, printed as PRE-CODE or PRECODE above the barcode.
How much is a Renault Clio radio code? £19.99 on this page against the pre-code or serial, refunded in full if the code does not work.
Where is the pre-code on a Clio radio? On a white label on the top or side of the head unit, shown as a letter followed by three digits. The unit has to come out of the dash to read it.
Does a Clio IV with Media Nav need a code? No. Media Nav is coded to the vehicle, so a flat battery only resets the clock and presets.